Slingshot arrangement



July 30, 1963 E. H. HALVERSON 3,099,256

SLINGSHQT ARRANGEMENT Filed Aug. 16, 1962 1 N VE N TOR. EMMETT 1 14,4; V's/250M BY 7 wawn/(olammem (ma/4404 1444? ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiiice 3,69,25h Patented July 30, 1963 3,999,256 SLINGSHQT ARRANGEMENT Emmett H. Halves-son, 194 E. Clarendon Sta, Prespect Heights, Ill. Filed Aug. 16, 1962, fser. No. 217,478 3 Claims. (Cl. 124-20) This invention relates to slingshots and, more particularly, to a slingshot which is adapted to engage an arrow near the tip end thereof to propel the arrow toward a target.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved slingshot arrangement which can be used with an arrow having a collar near the head thereof for propelling the arrow toward a target in which damage to the elastic bands of the slingshot by the collar of the arrow is prevented.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved slingshot for engaging an arrow near the tip end thereof wherein a U-shaped clip member is employed to engage the collar on the arrow and guard means are provided for preventing damage to the resilient bands of the slingshot as the arrow is released.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slingshot for engaging an arrow near the tip end thereof to propel the arrow toward a target which is of simplified construction and is economical to manufacture.

Briefly, the above and further objects of the invention are realized 'by providing a slingshot which comprises a ibody portion having a pair of extending arms to the ends of which are connected the ends of an elastic sling comprising a pair of elastic bands, the other ends of these bands being connected to the upstanding arms of a U-shaped clip member. The arms of this clip memher are provided with inturned and downwardly extending end portions which are adapted to form a seat for the collar of an arrow which collar is positioned near the tip of the arrow. The inturned ends of the clip member are spaced so as to provide clearance bet-ween the collar on the arrow and the elastic ibands of the sling so that damage to these hands during use is positively avoided. Furthermore, the inturned ends of the clip member provide an arrangement for exerting balanced forces on the collar and extend downwardly to the bight portion of the clip to provide reinforcing so that these end portions do not buckle when the bands are placed under tension.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together With further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slingshot and arrow embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the U-shaped clip member employed in the slingshot of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view showing the U-shaped clip member of FIG. 2 together with an arrow positioned properly for shooting;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, the slingshot and arrow combination of the present invention is shown therein as comprising a slingshot indicated generally at 10 which is shown with an arrow indicated generally at 11 in position for being propelled toward a target. The slingshot 10 comprises a body portion 12 having a depending handle portion 13 and a pair of upwardly extending arms 14 and 15. An elastic sling indicated generally at 16 is secured to the upper ends of the arms 14 and '15 by positioning one end of a pair of resilient bands 17 and 18 within a pair of crossed slots 19 and 249 in the ends of the arms 14 and 15. The sling 16 is completed by means of a generally U-shaped clip member indicated at 25' and most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the clip member 25 comprises a ibight portion 26 and a pair of upstanding arm portions 27 and 28. The other ends of the bands 17 and 18 are secured to the upstanding arms 27 and 28 by any suitable means. For example, small elastic hands 17a and 18a may be employed, as shown in FIG. 1, which hold the free ends of the bands 17 and 18 in a loop positioned around the arms 27 and 28. The upper ends of the arm portions 27 and 28 of the clip 25 are turned inwardly and downwardly to provide the end portions 29 and 30 which extend below the bight portion 26, the ends 29 and 30 forming a seat or bearing surface for the arrow collar.

In accordance with the present invention, the arrows 11 employed in connection with the slingshot 1d are of the type comprising an arrow shaft 35 having a pointed head portion 36 at the tip thereof and having a plurality of vanes 37 at the tail thereof for guiding the arrow in its flight. A :collar 38 is positioned on the shaft 35 and is arranged to be slidalble between the arrowhead 36 and a projecting ring 40 positioned on the arrow shaft 35 immediately ahead of the vanes 37. Preferably, the collar 38, while slidable, has a substantial frictional engagement with the shaft 35 so that when the arrow 11 strikes the target the collar 38 acts to slow down the penetration of the arrow into the target as the collar slides back along the shaft 35 until such time as the collar 38 strikes the ring 40. With this arrangement the arrow does not penetrate deeply into the target and may be readily removed from the target whereupon the collar 38 is again moved forwardly on the shaft 35 until it is seated on the shoulder 41 formed where the arrowhead 36 is secured to the forward end of the arrow shaft 35.

With an arrow of this type the propelling action is provided by engaging the rear side of the collar 38 with the elastic bands. However, if a simple U-sh-aped'clip were employed the arrow collar 38 would engage only the bight portion of the clip with the result that the force supplied to the arrow would be unbalanced and its direction in flight would not be true. In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, the inturned end portions 29 and 34 act as a balanced seat for the collar 38 by engaging this collar at points spaced symmetrically with respect to the center of the arrow shaft 35 and in line with the connection of the elastic bands 17 and 18 to the upstanding arms 27 and 28 of the clip 25. Furthermore, the collar 38 is positively prevented from touching the elastic bands 17 and 18 as the arrow is used. This is because the arrow shaft 35 is positioned within the wedge-shaped slot formed by the inturned ends 29 and 3t) and these inturned end portions act as a guard to prevent the arrow shaft from moving sidewardly by an amount sufficient to permit the collar 38 to rub against the resilient bands 17 and 18 at the points at which these bands are connected to the upstanding arms 27 and 28. As a result, wear on these bands due to rubbing by the arrow collar 38 is positively prevented and the useful life of the slingshot is substantially increased.

It will also be noted that by virtue of the fact that the inturned ends 2s and 30 extend downwardly below the bight portion 26 of the clip 25 a reinforcing action is provided such that these end portions do not buckle when the elastic bands 17 and 18 are placed under tension. It will, however, be understood that if the clip 25 is made of material having sufficient strength, the end portions 29 and 30 may be positioned above the bight portion 26 while still providing the above described advantages of guarding the arrow collar 33 so that it does not rub against the resilient bands 17 and 18 and also providing a balanced application of force on the arrow collar 38 so that the flight of the arrow is true.

While the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereon which are Within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A slingshot comprising, a body having a pair of extending arms, an elastic sling comprising a pair of resilient bands, one end of each of said bands being secured to one of said extending arms, a U-shaped clip member, means securing the other ends of said resilient bands to the upstanding arms of said U-shaped member, said arms of said U-shaped member being formed with a reverse bend so that the ends thereof extend downwardly across the bight portion of said U-shaped clip to form an inclined bearing surface which is adapted to receive the collar of an arrow which collar is positioned near the tip of the arrow, said ends of said U-shaped member being spaced from said arms thereof by an amount sufiicient to provide clearance between said resilient bands and the collar of an arrow when seated on said bearing surface.

2. A slingshot comprising, a body having a pair of extending arms, an elastic sling comprising a pair of resilient bands and a U-shaped clip member, each of said bands being connected to one of said extending arms and one of the arms of said U-shaped clip member, said arms of said U-shaped clip member being turned inwardly and downwardly to form a wedge-shaped slot for the shaft of an arrow the inwardly and downwardly turned portions of the arms forming a bearing surface for the collar of the arrow which collar is positioned near the tip of the arrow, said inturned ends being spaced from the arms of Said U-shaped clip member by an amount sufiicient to provide clearance between said resilient bands and the collar of an arrow when positioned on said seat.

3. A slingshot comprising, a body having a pair of extending arms, an elastic sling comprising a pair of resilient bands and a U-shaped clip memberyeach of said bands being connected to one of said extending arms and one of the arms of said U-shaped clip member, the ends of said arms of said U-shaped clip member being turned inwardly and downwardly to form a wedge-shaped slot for the shaft of an arrow the inwardly and downwardly turned portions of the arms forming a bearing surface for the collar of the arrow which collar is positioned near the tip of the arrow, said inturned ends extending downwardly over the bight portion of said U-shaped clip member so that said inturned ends do not buckle when said bands are placed under tension, and said inturned ends being spaced from the arms of said U-shaped clip member by an amount sufficient to provide clearance between said resilient bands and the collar of an arrow when positioned on said seat.

Halverson Mar. 10, 1959 

1. A SLINGSHOT COMPRISING, A BODY HAVING A PAIR OF EXTENDING ARMS, AN ELASTIC SLING COMPRISING A PAIR OF RESILIENT BANDS, ONE END OF EACH OF SAID BANDS BEING SECURED TO ONE OF SAID EXTENDING ARMS, A U-SHAPED CLIP MEMBER, MEANS SECURING THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID RESILIENT BANDS TO THE UPSTANDING ARMS OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER, SAID ARMS OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER BEING FORMED WITH A REVERSE BEND SO THAT THE END THEREOF EXTEND DOWNWARD-LY ACROSS THE BIGHT PORTION OF SAID U-SHAPED CLIP TO FORM AN INCLINED BEARING SURFACE WHICH IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE COLLAR OF AN ARROW WHICH COLLAR IS POSITIONED NEAR THE TIP OF THE ARROW, SAID ENDS OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER BEING SPACED FROM SAID ARMS THEREOF BY AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE BETWEEN SAID RESILIENT BANDS AND THE COLLAR OF AN ARROW WHEN SEATED ON SAID BEARING SURFACE. 